GreenBkk Formula 1 | Bernie dismisses breakaway talk

Bernie dismisses breakaway talk

Ferrari president Luca di Monetezemolo has once again brought up the possibility of a breakaway series, but F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone isn't at all concerned.

It's not the first time that a breakaway has been suggested, and with the Concorde Agreement which governs the commercial side of the sport expiring at the end of 2012, di Monetezemolo has hinted that Ferrari may look elsewhere, away from F1 rights holders CVC Capital Partners.

The 63-year-old believes that there are other options available to the teams as they look to get a bigger share of the sport's revenue.

"We can continue with CVC," the Italian said at a recent media lunch.

"We can find, theoretically, a different promoter. Of course, the name Formula One is very important, but I don't think it needs this name to exist.

"At the end of the day, this business is not so sophisticated. You have to do deals with TV, with the tracks, and you have to be prepared to look at new technologies, because if you look at the next 10 years of Formula One, the internet and things like that will be very important.

"So we need people also able to look ahead. If we continue with CVC, of course there will be financial reasons, financial discussions, but also the rule and presence of Bernie.

"The next option, theoretically, is that we can find a different company [promoter] and start discussions. Third, theoretically, we can establish our own company."

Di Monetezemolo insisted that Ferrari are committed to the sport and that they "have Formula One in our hearts and minds" but that the team did not want to be "locked in a Formula One prison."

Ecclestone has laughed off di Monetezemolo's suggestions, insisting that the Ferrari chief's talk is nothing new and that at the end of the day it is "complete nonsense."

"It's what he (Montezemolo) says every time he goes to Monza every year," Ecclestone told Reuters. "'We need more money'. It's all nonsense.

"They're not going to break away. They've tried it all before. Luca's a lovely guy but he likes to say these things and then he forgets what he is saying," added the 80-year-old.

Credit: PlanetF1.com (www.planetf1.com)